Lesson #2 – Tulip Wreath

The Tulip Wreath project is a little more ambitious than the lesson #1 projects – the Happel Hearts.

It provides the opportunity to practice Coral Knot and Chain stitches that you learned in lesson #1, and it introduces new techniques and challenges:

1. *Working on a finer linen (16 threads per cm)
2. *Working with a pre-transferred design
3. Tendrils and forks using Coral Knot stitches
4. Small leaves and small flowers using Satin stitches
5. Thread withdrawal for a Limet grid on the straight of grain

6. Thread withdrawal for a Limet grid on the bias
7. Eight different Limet-Filling patterns

8. Hemming with the Peahole hem
9. *Laundering a pre-transferred design

The most widely used linen for Schwalm whitework is linen with 16 threads per cm (Weddigen article 925). In lesson #1 you used the linen I recommend for beginners, linen with a lower thread count – 13.5 threads per cm (Weddigen article 160).

One of the goals of lesson #2 is to learn how to embroider on the finer linen. But in the proofing tests some of the ladies found it difficult to use this linen, so the lesson was redesigned. Now the same design and the same steps can be worked optionally on either the 16 threads per cm or the 13.5 threads per cm linen. As previously mentioned, the kit for lesson #1 also includes a small sample piece of linen with 16 threads per cm; it is included so that one can determine whether or not they are comfortable using this finer linen. The result is the same tulip wreath, but the size of the finer linen cloth is smaller.

There is also an add-on option for lesson #2: pre-cut linen with the design already transferred. A benefit of pre-transferred designs is that one can start embroidering at once – without doing the laborious task of transferring the design first. Also the colour of pre-transferred designs is very durable. It will not fade while working, which can happen when using iron transfer in larger designs. However, pre-transferred designs will need more work (soaking, boiling, and rubbing several times) to remove the colour after the embroidery is completed. But in the end it does disappear; I can attest to this since I have embroidered many such pre-transferred designs.

For people who do not want linen with the design pre-transferred, the design is included in two different sizes in the booklet. Please note that design transfer is not a subject covered in this lesson.

For the project worked with 16 per cm thread-count linen you will need:
linen (blank or with pre-transferred design) cut to about 45 cm X 45 cm
a small linen sample for practicing
coton à broder No. 20 – 1 skein; No. 25 – 1 skein, and No. 30 – 2 skeins
Chenille needle No. 26
Tapestry needle No. 26

All these items are included in kit #2A.

For the project worked with 13.5 per cm thread-count linen you will need:
linen (blank or with pre-transferred design) cut to at least 55 cm X 55 cm
a small linen sample for practicing
coton à broder No. 16 – 1 skein; No. 20 – 2 skein; and No. 30 – 3 skeins
Chenille needle No. 24
Chenille needle No. 26
Tapestry needle No. 26

All these items are included in kit #2B